Kids Help Phone

Need help now? You can reach a Kids Help Phone counsellor 24/7 at 1-800-668-6868.

By texting CONNECT to 686868, you can chat confidentially with a trained, volunteer Crisis Responder for support with any issue — big or small. Our texting service is available 24/7/365. You don’t need a data plan, Internet connection or an app to use it. Remember, all conversations between young people and volunteer Crisis Responders are confidential.

Bullying and peer conflict

Here are some resources for parents and caregivers on bullying prevention and intervention:

• Ministry of Education – Bullying: We can all help stop it
• The Red Cross – Preventing bullying: Tips for parents
• The Red Cross – How to help: A youth perspective on bullying (video)
• PREVNet – What parents need to know
• Edutopia – Empowering students to curb bullying

Healthy relationships, consent and sexual relationships

Research shows that parent-child communication about sexual health encourages positive behaviour. Here are some resources to help:

• The Region of Waterloo – The talk: A parents guide
• Leicestershire County Council – What consent looks like (video)
• Harvard University – The Talk: How Adults Can Promote Young People’s Healthy Relationships
• Amaze.org – What makes a relationship healthy (video)

Safe internet use and creating a positive digital footprint

Resources on appropriate and inappropriate use of the internet, social media and digital technology:

• Canada’s Centre for Digital and Media Literacy – Media smarts
• PREVNet – Parenting in a digital age
• Canadian Centre for Child Protection – Internet safety
• Cyberbullying Research Center – Cyberbullying fact sheet
• Ontario Women’s Justice Network – Sexting and the law

Drug and alcohol use

• Waterloo Region Integrated Drugs Strategy – Preventing substance use
• Kids Health – Talking to your child about drugs
• Harvard Health Publications and HelpGuide.org – Teenage drinking
• WRDSB – Talking to your child about opioids use
• Centre for Addition and Mental Health – Opioids: What you need to know
• School Mental Health Assist – Cannabis Information
• Drug Free Kids Canada – Drug Free Kids Canada

Cannabis 101

• Government of Ontario – Cannabis Rules and Regulations
• University of Waterloo – Cannabis 101
• 5 Things to know about Cannabis – Video

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning and more (LGBTQ+)

Information for families of students who identify as LGBTQ+, who are unsure of how they identify and who want to serve as allies of LGBTQ+ students:

• K-W Counselling – OK2BME

Resiliency, stress and anxiety

Tips for helping children and teens build resilience and manage anxiety: from the

• American Psychological Association –Resiliency guide for parents and teachers
• Kids Health – Childhood stress
• The Anxiety Disorders Association of British Columbia – Anxiety…can totally suck!
• Harvard Graduate School of Education – What do anxious teens need?
• Teens can be Resilient – A Parent Guide
• Teens can be Resilient in High School – A Parent Guide

Eating Disorders

Information for families wanting to better understand Eating Disorders and related behaviour:

• Canadian Mental Health Association of Waterloo-Wellington – Services for eating disorders
• Waterloo-Wellington Eating Disorders Coalition – Advocacy and services
• Eating Disorders in Males – Eating Disorder Hope

Suicide

Information to help you understand the issue of suicide and learn about suicide prevention:

• Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council – Preventing suicide
• National Association of School Psychologists – Preventing youth suicide
• The Right by You – Support teen mental health

Self-harm

Resources and information about why some youth self-harm and how you can help your child:

• Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario – What you need to know
• The Canadian Mental Health Association  – Youth and self injury

Communicating with your teen

Ideas for how to better communicate with your teen:

• Child Mind Institute – Tips for communicating with teens
• Psychology Today – 9 Tips for Communicating With Your Teenage Son

General Resources for Parents and Caregivers

• Family Resources – Family Compass
• Well-Being Resources for children – Heart-Mind Online

Internet Gaming Disorder

• Psychology Today – Internet Gaming Disorder Article

E-Cigarette and Tobacco Use

• Canadian Paediatric Society – Dangers of E-cigarettes for children and youth
• Canadian Paediatric Society – Smoking and Youth
• University of Waterloo – Vaping
• Centre for Disease Control – Tobacco and Teens
• Mayo Clinic – Quitting smoking for Teens

Promoting Positive Body Image

• Mayo Clinic – Tips for Girls
• Kids Health – Encouraging Healthy Body Image
• Kids Help Phone – Body Image Info for Teens
• Healthy Bodies Curriculum – 10 Lessons
• Healthy Bodies Curriculum  – Toxic Cultural Myths

Encouraging Healthy Physical Activity

• Globe and Mail – Kids and Physical Activity
• Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology  – Guidelines for 12 -17
• Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology  – 24 Hour Guidelines

Promoting Positive Mental Health

• Mental Health and Well-being Resources from the WRDSB – Health and Well-Being
• WRDSB Resource List – Resource List for Parents
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health – Mental Health vs. Mental Illness
• Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington – Road map for Parents
• Right By You – Communicating with your Teen
• Here 24/7 – Portal for mental health

Social and Emotional Learning

• CASEL  – Social / Emotional Learning
• CASEL – Social / Emotional Learning Skills
• Edutopia – Social / Emotional Learning Parent Resources

Cultivating Care and Empathy

• Greater Good Science Center  – Raising Kind Kids
• Harvard Graduate School of Education – Raising Caring Children
• Harvard Graduate School of Education – Cultivating Empathy
• Cultivating Kindness and Compassion in Children – Cultivating Kindness and Compassion

Self-Regulation

•  Importance of Developing Self-Regulation – Developing Self Regulation
• Parent Map – Self Regulation in Tweens and Teens
• Harvard Graduate School of Education – Activities to Keep Organized
• Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation – Promoting Self-Regulation in Teens